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From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-03-2006, 12:52 PM (1 of 12)
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I have wanted new draped for my living room for 3 years now and I think I found the perfect fabric. I have fallen in love with this beautiful Dark Chocolate colored Dupioni Silk. Is this stuff going to be easy to sew. Im planning on using a very basic pattern. So they should sew up very fast mind the fabric decides to be nice to me. Last year I made my girls matching dresses out of this white satin and I had to lock the doors to my sewing room. I was scared the girls were going to learn some very colorful new words. It was a nightmare. Am I looking for a headache with the Dupioni Silk or will I be ok. Thanks very much in advance, Spring |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-13-2006, 02:17 PM (2 of 12)
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I haven't used silk fabric yet, but thought I would check my sewing book "Simplicity's 'Simply the Best Sewing Book'" for you - here's what I found, hope it helps you: slippery fabrics: They are hard to handle as you cut & stitch. For best results, cut them out single thickness & baste wherever necessary before machine stitching. Check your machine needle size for sewing on silk. Silk thread not necessary if too expensive, instead try polyester or cotton-covered polyester. Try double-stitched seam finishes, to prevent raveling. Hope some of these will help you to not have to resort to closing up your sewing room expletives, lol! |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-13-2006, 04:58 PM (3 of 12)
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Thanks for the tips! I really should have used the bast stitched when I made the dresses......it was so bad. I was cussing like a sailor mixed with a little marine....lol 
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User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-13-2006, 05:24 PM (4 of 12)
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Sandra Betzina suggests prewashing if you plan to wash the finished item (gentle cycle, warm water and machine dried permanent press cycle). If you are going to dry clean she suggests steaming it with the iron before cutting (it will get water spots though so I kind of question this and would sure see what happens on a bit of scrap first). Washing will soften and dull the sheen. Use a nap layout -- all in the same direction. cotton or poly thread and size 70 microtex needle. 2.5 mm stitch length dry iron on silk setting she suggests holding it tautly while you sew. Dupioni has a lot of body so it should help with the slipping. Use a walking foot and you should be alright. In my experience silk is easier to work with than a silky poly or such. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-13-2006, 07:32 PM (5 of 12)
OMG I didnt even think about the finished product and how I was going to care for it.... I never ever pretreat a scrap to see how it handles life....I guess I better start. If Im going to spend this kind of money on my drapes I DO want them to last a little while.....But I live in the very dusty southwest..let me be honest Im not paying to dry clean these puppies every couple weeks....lol I think I will buy the smallest amount that I can and see how I feel about washing them and the favbric loosing its sheen( Im crying here...the sheen was my fav. part..lol) |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 11-13-2006, 08:25 PM (6 of 12)
Don't wash silk dupioni unless you want a matte look, it will lose all it's luster, don't even steam it when you press it. Also you should plan to line them with a white or cream drape liner to prevent sun damage, Silk is beautiful but is organic and fades like a bugger in the sun. Therefore line well. Sorry to be a drag.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-13-2006, 10:42 PM (7 of 12)
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Hummmm I am going to order a small piece and play with it. They will be linned like crazy. I live in the desert- we have sun sun sun and more sun. What a bummer. So glad that I asked. I guess $50.00 a window isent terrible if it looses its sheen. What the heck happens if I dry clean the drapes  Everyone I know is going to freak out if they find out my penny pintching butt pays to dry clean my drapes...lol |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: VenusElaine
Date: 11-14-2006, 09:14 PM (8 of 12)
Unless someone in your home smokes (I do, and know about nicotine deposits), your draperies can hang for many years without dry cleaning if you vaccuum them monthly, or more often if you have a dust problem. Many custom workrooms do not recommend dry cleaning, as the draperies will shrink ever so slightly each time you do . Most people never think about this option. We vaccuum our carpets, and occasionally our upholstery, but never our draperies. It is easy to do with a soft brush attatchment, you can do it while they are hanging, and get behind the hardware and the windowsills at the same time. Of course, since I smoke, all my drapes are washable, and most of them are actually made from sheets. My living room is adorned with three pair made from Martex twin flats, which are $3.99 a piece at my local discount outlet. I even left the original trimmed hem and shortened as needed from the top (bottom of sheet).I have used a commercial machine for so many years, I cannot advise you as to sewing your drapes. I even have my own at home (Singer, about to turn 100) and rarely use anything else. It's so old it doesn't even have a reverse. I use the knee lift, slide the seam back, and stitch over again! About the only thing I do is make sure I have a proper, new needle, and keep the fabric properly aligned. Let us know how it all turns out! VenusElaine "Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
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User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005 Total posts: 126 |
From: kmccrea
Date: 11-16-2006, 07:54 AM (9 of 12)
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Silk duipionni is by its nature not very slippery because of the nubs and texture. I love the stuff and I've never had a problem with it. I would suggest using an even feed foot on seams that do not need to be eased. Since you're sewing drapes, you can use the even feed foot during the whole process. As far as caring for the silk, make sure what you line it with is compatable with how you plan to clean them. You can wash the silk in the gentle cycle of your machine and lay them out flat to dry. If your fabric is not too heavy, you can drape them over the shower curtain rod (put down lots of towels, it'll drip like crazy). I use shampoo to wash my silk. Detergents break down protein fibers and the next thing you know, there are thin spots in your expensive silk drapes. Use a regular, gentle shampoo without any conditioners in it. DEFINATELY pre wash a swatch of your silk to make sure of color fastness and tightness of weave. It will shrink a little and the color may run a tiny bit, but once the prewash is done the silk should be fine and won't shrink if you wash in lukewarm water. If the color runs a lot, try putting salt in with the wash to set the dye. Test on your swatch first. I hope this helps, Kate Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173 
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From: kmccrea
Date: 11-16-2006, 08:30 AM (10 of 12)
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Don't wash silk dupioni unless you want a matte look, it will lose all it's luster, don't even steam it when you press it. Also you should plan to line them with a white or cream drape liner to prevent sun damage, Silk is beautiful but is organic and fades like a bugger in the sun. Therefore line well. Sorry to be a drag. I've washed silks, including duipionni dozens of times and never had the matte look. The key is to treat it like your own hair, gently. Dry it inside because it will fade like crazy in the sun. Lay down lots of towels. If you do use steam (which I do) when pressing put a presscloth over it. The only time I ever have to press silk, though, is during the construction process and can't get a professional look without steam. Silk does not have to mean expensive care. Wash it like you would your own hair, gently and in lukewarm water. Rinse well and do not ever, ever wring it to get the excess water out! If you feel you must wring, then press and squeeze instead with no twisting. I have an extra hanging rod in my shower (one of those spring tension ones) high enough for me to reach it comfortably, yet out of my way when showering. Or, you can just lay down lots of thick absorbent towels under your hung silk. Silk holds a lot of water! I hope I helped you all enjoy this beautiful and not so delicate fiber. Kate Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173
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From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-16-2006, 09:15 PM (11 of 12)
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OMG! You gave me faith!!!! Thanks so much. I want these drapes so bad...lol I have Family Dollar ones handing up and they have been there for the past three years...Im really looking forward to these. My biggest fear was sewing the silk. I didnt even think about caring for them...sheez that takes all the fun out of creating...lol |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-16-2006, 10:14 PM (12 of 12)
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Well, Miss Spring, sewing with silk should not intimidate you. It is a lovely fabric that is much stronger than it looks and behaves wells. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
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